MP Welcomes New £180 Million Transport Funding

David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield, has welcomed new funding of over £180 million for Cheshire East Council, as part of the Government’s long-term plan to level up local transport in the North and Midlands.

The Government’s £4.7 billion Local Transport Fund, directly supports long-term local transport improvements, helping people across our area benefit from the transport enhancements that matter most to local people. From 2025, this new investment will give communities the opportunity to improve public transport, reduce congestion and upgrade local bus and train stations helping create jobs and grow the local economy.

It is the first transport budget of its kind that is specifically targeted at smaller cities, towns and rural areas – such as Macclesfield – and empowers local people and local community leaders to invest in transport projects that make a difference to their communities.

Cheshire East Council will begin to receive the £180 million funding from April 2025, giving the Council time to develop its funding proposals with communities and prepare to hit the ground running to start delivering them as early as possible.

The announcement comes as part of the Government’s long-term plan to reallocate the taxpayers’ money saved from the second phase of HS2 into local transport improvements across the North and Midlands.

Commenting on the announcement, David said:

“This is positive news for Macclesfield and our local area. Through this new funding, we will see more investment in local transport networks, which local residents rely on every day. This additional funding will make a real difference to our local transport infrastructure that is also critical to our local economy.  I am committed to working with Government Ministers, Cheshire East Council and local residents to get the best outcomes from this new transport funding.”

Pictured - David Rutley MP at Macclesfield Train Station.